Staff Spotlight: Olivia Lee Reinhardt, Upper Elementary EA

Tell us your name, position at GRS and how long you've worked here: 

My name is Olivia Lee Reinhardt, I'm an EA in Upper Elementary (Crow Wing). I've only worked here for about a month but I went to GRS for 7-12th grades (graduated 2019).

What is your favorite food?

My favorite food is Vietnamese Vermicelli Noodle Salad, especially from Quang in Minneapolis.

What does your cultural background mean to you?

My cultural background is a big part of my identity! I'm half Hmong and it has been a culture that I grew up with closely due to having such a massive and close knit family. I consider myself spiritual, similar to the spirituality in the homeland of Laos and we still give thanks to our ancestors and passed loved ones. I also love celebrating Hmong New Year and other family events because we all get to dress up in the beautiful hmong clothing and have yummy food like Nab Vam (a coconut tapioca drink), mov nplaum ntshaav (Purple sticky rice), and Nyhuv ntxwm hmoob (Hmong sausage).

What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?

I am an illustrator, and I got my degree in illustration at Minneapolis College of Art Design. I love to draw, especially characters and story developmental art. I strive to create a world that is colorful, bright and fun in my work through diverse characters and exploration of how culture can create a character. I do freelance work for clients that want to see their DnD characters come to life and it's amazing and fun to bring these characters from words to drawing. I also love cooking, playing video games and hanging out with my two cats and boyfriend.

What is something you are passionate about?

I'm very passionate about social justice and bringing diversity to spaces. Since coming to school here, I have worked hard to make sure GRS can grow and thrive with diversity goals. Now that I'm back, I'm so excited to see how we can keep progressing together.

What is a favorite quote of yours?

"My illustrious lordship, I'll show you what a woman can do." -Artemisia Gentileschi, Italian Baroque Painter 

What is your greatest accomplishment thus far?

I am extremely proud of my senior art show at Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 2023, since it got me my degree! It was a massive showcase of my work and I was extremely proud of my art and all the time and dedication I put into it.

If you could have one wish for society what would it be?

I would wish for more empathy in the world, so much that everyone will open their arms to those in pain and we can begin healing the world together.

Jamal Randle: Big Dreams, Books, and Baskets

Written in conjunction with Great River School Student, Jamal Randle, Class of 2025

Jamal is an 11th grader at Great River School with big dreams and goals in mind. Let’s learn a little about Jamal!

My first memory of touching a basketball was when i was 2! When I began playing basketball seriously was fourth grade, I was really talented & it felt like it was “too easy”. That was really because of training with my dad & having a older brother that pushed me to go hard in every drill. Once I got to 7th grade I decided to play high school basketball. My brother was a big help in assisting me during that time, and I was the assistant the year before so I was familiar with everybody & I was a surprise to all of the older guys. 8th grade was covid year, I only played half of that year & one game scored 30 in a JV game!

Freshman year was my breakout year, It was my first year playing varsity, I was starting & after getting all of the nervousness out of my system, I surprised everyone including myself. I give props to my parents, they were really supportive & told me things I did well & could improve on & that really helped me succeed. My brother was also a big help in being blunt with me about the goods & bads that I could’ve done better. I ended that by fracturing my hip. It was a very long, rough, and difficult process. That led to my sophomore year, which was super rough, I think it was a okay year, but not my best.

This year has started off good, we’re currently 4-5 after coming off of a 5-16 year, so major improvements & I’ve been playing amazingly well. If the tracking app had the correct averages I would currently be 15th In the state in scoring. I believe that this year has been my best so far, I wish we could’ve had a record to show that, but I’m proud of my improvements considering I spent a lot of time over the summer going to the gym almost 4 times a week.

Anyways, aside from basketball, if I’m not doing homework I usually am playing video games. Some games I play are 2k, Madden, Call Of Duty, Fortnite, etc. I recently started getting back into [streaming on] youtube, I still haven’t fully committed to it, but that time will come. My dreams for basketball is to firstly, get a conference, section, and state championship before I graduate. After that, I want to go to college & proceed to get drafted & play in the NBA.

That’s a little bit about me!

GRS Affinity Groups

Affinity groups are spaces created for people to connect based on shared identities, ideologies, or interests. The creation of these spaces are important in cultivating community and belonging. Today, there are several such affinity groups that provide safe spaces for our students. Each group emerged from a need identified by members of that particular group. Students are able to propose additional affinity groups as they see the need for them. These groups meet regularly as part of our school’s club rotation and have faculty moderators to assist in the conversations, education, and overall experience. 

Five things that affinity spaces do well:

• Create safe spaces for authentic connection among group members who share similar backgrounds or experiences

• Aid in development of social identity and promote cultural awareness, understanding and appreciation among students

• Build resilience and provide emotional support by serving as a platform for students to share their experiences, challenges, and triumphs with peers who understand their unique struggles

• Empower members to advocate for their needs 

• Promote diversity and inclusion by acknowledging and celebrating different identities and cultures. They help foster a more inclusive environment where everyone’s unique perspectives are valued.

We are always seeking to meet the emergent needs of our students through affinity spaces but some of the affinity groups currently present here at GRS include: 

Upper Adolescent BIPOC Student Group 

Lower Adolescent BIPOC Student Group 

Elementary BIPOC 

GSA (Gender Sexuality Alliance)

BIPOC GSA (Gender Sexuality Alliance)

SAM (Students Against Misogyny) 

Jordan Samejima, Equity and Inclusion Facilitator

Jordan Samejima brings experience and a passion in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion. He implemented some new things as part of his role and has partnered with several student groups! He is looking forward to creating new programs to better serve the needs of our many families at Great River! Get to know Jordan!

Biography provided by Jordan Samejima, Equity and Inclusion Facilitator

I joined Great River in 2022 as the schools first equity and inclusion facilitator and have learned a lot about the Great River community in a short amount of time. As the equity and inclusion facilitator I will work with staff, students, and families at every grade level. I believe that Great River does great work with students but we can always strive to be better and engage in more equitable systemic practices that lead to more positive outcomes for students from marginalized communities.

In my role as the equity and inclusion facilitator I will be a member of the leadership team and have the opportunity to create meaningful change here at Great River. I am in the process of developing an equity action plan in collaboration with Equity Alliance MN along with a committee group that consists of staff, students, and parent representatives. 

I am excited about the opportunity here at Great River and I look forward to fostering relationships with the students, staff, and community members of Great River. I love equity related work and understand the impact it can have. I am always open to feedback, ideas, and more than willing to collaborate on equity related initiatives. 

A little bit about me…

I grew up here in Minnesota and attended Augsburg College where I received my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. I received my Masters in Educational Leadership from Saint Mary’s University. I began my career working for Inver Grove Heights public schools; after discovering my passion for educational equity, I transitioned into more equity focused roles and have had the pleasure to serve in districts across the state including Mounds View, Robbinsdale, and Shakopee prior to joining Great River.

My wife and I reside in Robbinsdale with our 10 month old daughter Noemi and our dog Nori. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, attending sporting events and concerts, trying new recipes, and traveling.

I have always understood the importance of valuing all voices, perspectives, and experiences in order to build and sustain a healthy community. I’m looking forward to creating a different reality for our students here at Great River.  

Email Jordan Samejima